Tempe residents step up fight against ‘dangerous’ Bunnings plan

By PATRICK MCKENZIE

A Tempe community campaign against the traffic management plan for a proposed Bunnings development has been backed by Inner West councillors, who have called on the NSW government to take action against what they believe is a safety risk to the area. 

A group of local residents and members of the Tempe Public School community have formed the ‘Safe Traffic Plan for Bunnings Tempe’ group, which is urging the NSW government to revisit plans for the site.

According to the campaign, the new Bunnings on the Princes Highway, which would be the biggest in Sydney, would see thousands of new cars funnelled into narrow streets, more than tripling the amount of traffic on Union Street past the public school.

Inner West mayor accuses Bunnings of ‘playing hard ball’ with Tempe residents

Inner West mayor Darcy Byrne has said that Bunnings is “playing hard ball” with Tempe residents and that the NSW government needs to take action on “very reasonable requests from the local community for a signalised crossing”.

Residents have called on Metropolitan Roads Minister Natalie Ward to visit the area to understand residents’ concerns, saying that they would support the development if traffic arrangements were reviewed. 

In a video statement released to the Safe Traffic Plan group’s Facebook page, Tempe Public School Vice-Captain Lily Cobb encouraged the Minister to visit the area.

“I really want to meet with Minister Natalie Ward so I can show her how narrow the street is and how dangerous this idea would be,” she said.

Councillor Mat Howard also called for the NSW government to resolve the issue, which has been continuing for years.

“Tempe residents aren’t asking for much here. All along, the community has been calling for a simple solution that is good for Bunnings and good for the people who live here, including the kids that use these streets each and every day to walk to school,” Cr Howard said.

“We’re now calling on the Planning Panel to give us the chance to do this important work and then make a decision based on all the facts.”

Planning panel yet to declare decision

Councillors Byrne, Howard and Justine Langford as well as a number of local residents gathered at Tempe Public School last Wednesday in support of the cause, ahead of an Eastern Sydney Regional Planning Panel the following day. The panel is yet to publicly declare its decision.

City Hub has contacted the office of the Minister for Metropolitan Roads, to ask if she will review the proposed site following calls from the community campaign.